New Rochelle Arts + Cultural District Master Plan Conceptual Plan February 4, 2015
Arts Districts What s It All About?
What is an Arts + Cultural District? Designated area Set of policies that support arts + culture: incentives, programming, marketing Can boost consumption, production, participation, or any/all Encourages density + visibility of arts and cultural activities >> critical mass 3 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
Why Here? The arts are more invisible than they should be Long history of arts + culture in New Rochelle New energy and interest around arts Viable alternative for artists to escalating rents in NYC Proposed downtown redevelopment will: supply a critical mass of residents/workers to support arts provide community benefits and funding that support arts enhance city s image 4 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
Project Scope + Approach
Our Charge Understand arts + cultural landscape of city Survey physical environment Conduct market study of arts space Make recommendations for: Physical boundaries of district Management of district Regulatory changes to support district Uses, placemaking, public realm Programming and marketing 6 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
Timeline of Planning Process Site Survey + Kickoff Interviews First Public Meeting Nov. 19 th Final Plan September 2015 March 2016 Background Research + Mapping Interviews + Focus Groups Artist Survey + Market Analysis Draft Conceptual Plans, Site Plans, + Strategies Finalize Plans + Strategies Focus Groups + Public Outreach Second Public Meeting February 4 th
Our Approach Success looks like: A strong identity and vision, uniquely New Rochelle, that translates from planning to action in order to.captivate and excite a diverse group of residents and business people while attracting investment and building from existing initiatives and retaining and growing arts and cultural uses and creative industries. 8 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
What We ve Heard and Seen
What We ve Heard and Seen Artists Performers Artisans Arts + Cultural Organizations Arts Businesses Community Members Site Surveys GIS Mapping Focus Groups Interviews Public Outreach Market Survey Public Meeting Case Studies 10 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
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New Rochelle Arts + Cultural District Master Plan What We ve Seen 12 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
What We ve Heard The district should be within walking distance of the train station, to connect people from New York City. New Rochelle needs things to do after 9 pm. Young people are kinda stuck here. Everyone s tired of just talking about an Arts District in New Rochelle. There s momentum building, but we need a density of artists and culture. 13 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
What We ve Heard It can be hard to do murals and other public art here a lot of red tape. Cabaret laws make it hard to hold events downtown you can t have three people playing live music at the same time. Studio space here is pretty expensive for artists, especially young artists. We have strong schools, a strong high school arts program, let s build off that. 14 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
What We ve Heard 15 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016 What We Heard in Interviews
Existing Land Use Survey All Uses 16 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
Existing Land Use Survey All Uses 17 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
Existing Land Use Survey Industrial Uses 18 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
What We ve Learned Diverse survey responses - 99 total from artists and orgs 60 individual artists + performers, 39 arts + cultural organizations Artist characteristics and media 34% FT artist, 26% PT, 3% art student, 37% other 53% (28) paint or draw; for 19, this is their primary medium 23% (12) photography; for 7 this is their primary medium 25% (13) sculpt and 30% (16) do mixed media Physical space 23 of 35 have space in New Rochelle; most are renters Square footage ranges from 25 SF upwards Range of space uses: office (12), studio/workshop (8), education/training (8), gallery (7), performance (6) 19 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
Where Artists Live + Work Artists live and work in a variety of arrangements (n = 50) Own combined live/work space Rent combined live/work space Own separate living and work spaces Rent separate living and work spaces Own living space and do not have a separate, dedicated work space Rent living space and do not have a separate, dedicated work space Other (please specify) 0 5 10 15 20 20 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
Where Artists Live + Work Respondents live + work throughout New Rochelle and Westchester County (n = 48) 13% live in Downtown Core of New Rochelle 23% live in the South End area One-third live outside of New Rochelle 22.9% 12.5% 4.2% 4.2% 12.5% 22.9% 8.3% 12.5% Downtown Core, New Rochelle West End, New Rochelle North End, New Rochelle South End, New Rochelle East End, New Rochelle Westchester County, Outside New Rochelle Outside Westchester County Other New Rochelle location, please describe 21 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
Views on the Arts + Cultural District The majority of respondents support the district 22 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
What to Include in an Arts + Cultural District 70 Which of the following uses are most important to foster in an Arts & Cultural District? 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Gallery space Performing arts venue Museums Artist Live/Work Space (market rate) Artist Live/Work Space (affordable or below market rate) Office Space for Arts/Cultural Organizations Art schools/arts education Arts supply stores/support businesses Shared, coworking, or incubator space Public outdoor plaza/space for holding arts and cultural events Essential Not Essential But Desireable Not Desirable Affordable live/work space, gallery space, and a performing arts venue were deemed essential by a large majority of respondents (87%, 77%, 77%) 23 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
Where Should the District Be? Survey Responses 24 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
A Conceptual Plan
Components of the Plan District Location Providing variety of spaces for: Art creation fine arts, performance, media, creative economy Art + cultural experiences buying + viewing art, attending shows, etc. Affordability Programming/placemaking events, performances, activities Public art Management Regulatory Changes Funding Implementation 26 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
District Location The Downtown Overlay 27 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
District Location The Benefits of Downtown Development People! A Market 990,000 SF of new retail space 1,805,000 SF of new non-medical office space 5,500 apartments, hundreds of affordable units Community Benefits Arts + Cultural Space Community Facility Pedestrian Passage Open Space Community Benefits Fund 28 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
District Location Survey Responses revisited 87% of survey respondents deemed affordable live/work space essential for an arts district! 29 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
District Location Opportunities for Affordability + Space LI LI LI 30 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
District Location An Arts + Cultural District for All Conceptual Plan map 31 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
New Rochelle Arts and Cultural District New Rochelle Arts and Cultural District Plan Spaces: Current Arts + Cultural Assets 32 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
District Location An Arts + Cultural District for All Assets map with Conceptual Plan light shading of areas with photo and caption overlays on each of the following slides Restaurants Artist Spaces Former Theatre 33 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
Half-mile radius from train New Rochelle Arts and Cultural District Plan Quarter-mile radius from train District Location An Arts + Cultural District for All 34 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
District Location An Arts + Cultural District for All Assets map with Conceptual Plan light shading of areas with photo and caption overlays on each of the following slides 35 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
A heads up for later: Think about District + Themes for Breakout #1
Spaces Creation, Experience, Market Providing a variety of spaces for: Creating Experiencing Placemaking Affordability Add photo 37 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
Spaces Creating! 38 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
Spaces Creating! Work Second Floor Spaces BID Artist Space Program Studios Creative industries Coworking and lab spaces Storefronts Vacant storefront arts program Windows on Art (BID) Light Industrial area Coworking Artist studios Maker spaces Creative industries 39 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
Spaces Creating! Work/live not typical housing! Light Industrial area Work/live units Work/live units with shared facilities (kitchens, common space) CreateForce units for artists w/ common work studios? Downtown affordable housing (provided by new development opportunities) A micro unit 40 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
Spaces Creating! Multi-purpose black box theatre/event space Performance/Education Spaces Second Floor Studios downtown Second Floor classrooms Windows on Art Storefront Program Existing Cultural and Public Spaces Public Library Library Green The Streets/Plazas of Downtown New Roc City New Spaces Public Benefits Black box theatre Cultural/event space Galleries 41 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
Spaces Creating! Maker Spaces Can support market rents Think micro units for makers! Minimum fit out Not about aesthetics It s about the stuff access to tools, computers, large common making space and all related materials Adaptive reuse Underutilized buildings storage, mfg, warehouse- almost anything goes 42 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
District Spaces Location Experiencing! An Arts + Cultural District for All Assets map with Conceptual Plan light shading of areas with photo and caption overlays on each of the following slides 43 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
Spaces Experiencing! Galleries Art on the Walls: Restaurants Bakeries Public buildings Personal services Banks Monthly wall walks/maps History and Art Walking Tours Temporary closures of streets Festivals and Events 44 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
Spaces Experiencing! Public Art BID Programs Street furniture and signage Murals Pedestrian passageways Open spaces Funding permanent art installations Art walk 45 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
Spaces Experiencing! Performance Spaces Second Floor classrooms Windows on Art Storefront Program Existing Cultural and Public Spaces Public Library Library Green The Streets/Plazas of Downtown New Roc City New Spaces Public Benefits Black box theatre Cultural/performance space Galleries 46 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
Spaces Placemaking Public Library programs BID New Ro s Pops, PopRoc Collaborations Ring in the Year Summer Music on the Green Farmers Market Holiday Lighting ArtsFest New Development: Open space Pedestrian Passages Cultural Spaces 47 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
Spaces Placemaking New Rochelle High School PAVE Colleges Organizations currently without a home Public Realm Placemaking street/sidewalk improvements Walkability sidewalk seating/cafes Street Closures (temporary) Pedestrian and bike days Art market days 48 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
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Spaces Affordability Second floor uses Temporary ground floor activation of vacant spaces Light industrial area Micro units for work/live Maker space Art on the Walls (restaurants, public buildings, banks) Churches studio space? Downtown Core affordable housing Downtown Core cultural spaces 50 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
A heads up for later: Think about Spaces for Breakout #2
Management
Regulatory Downtown overlay it s happening! Public benefits Arts and cultural spaces Arts + Cultural District Overlay Zone Allow work/live in Light Industrial area Provide incentives for redevelopment, improvements, new development of arts and cultural spaces Allow non-traditional/innovative artist space shared spaces, common facilities, lower minimums for SF Artist certification required? 53 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
Partners + Programming
Discussion 55 Copyright CivicMoxie 2016
Breakout #1 Location + Themes 10 minutes!
Breakout #2 Spaces 20 minutes!
Next Steps Site Survey + Kickoff Interviews First Public Meeting Nov. 19 th Final Plan September 2015 March 2016 Background Research + Mapping Interviews + Focus Groups Artist Survey + Market Analysis Draft Conceptual Plans, Site Plans, + Strategies Finalize Plans + Strategies Focus Groups + Public Outreach Second Public Meeting February 4 th